Standing back pain is a very common symptomatic expression of a wide range of dorsopathy concerns. Virtually any type of back pain might hurt more when standing, either due to purely anatomical reasons or the phenomenon known as psychological conditioning. It is crucial to objectively observe all symptoms in order to help achieve an accurate diagnosis.
Some patients can stand in some situations, but not in others, providing possible evidence of a psychosomatic pain syndrome at work. Other patients can’t stand for long at all, which may indicate a structural issue in the spine or back muscles. The most common reason for pain, weakness and/or numbness while standing is lumbar central spinal stenosis.
This discussion focuses on back pain that is caused or worsened when standing upright.
Standing Back Pain Conditions
Patients who endure increased symptoms from standing might be suffering from back muscle pain or may be affected by some spinal source of discomfort. Most patients report their pain to be worse when standing in one place for a long time. Often, these same patients might also suffer sitting back pain, but may enjoy some relief from walking. In other cases, sitting might provide tremendous relief and walking may be even more difficult than standing. These pain characteristics are helpful to the any doctor who must diagnose the exact nature and source of discomfort, so be sure to tell your physician everything you can about your symptoms.
Standing pain can be very limiting and is typically linked to work activities. In these cases, the pain is even more stressful, since it prevents a person from concentrating on their job or possibly even being able to pursue their career aspirations at all.
Back Pain from Standing Relief
Finding relief from standing-related back ache is greatly dependent upon the underlying source of symptoms:
Patients with a structural pain syndrome associated with a herniated disc or spinal arthritis condition might have to work on resolving the causative concern before they will enjoy lasting relief. These spinal abnormalities are not generally linked to pain while standing, in particular, but may enact specific symptoms in some patients.
Spinal stenosis is the usual culprit for purely structural pain which worsens while standing or walking. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis actually seem to benefit from sitting or lying down, since these positions create more room in the spinal canal. If you enjoy marked relief bending forward, sitting or putting your legs up, lumbar stenosis could be the underlying causative issue. However, these same standing-related symptoms might come on with a cervical stenosis condition, as well, but will not generally be alleviated by sitting or bending over to the same degree, if at all.
Patients with idiopathic back pain typically experienced in the back muscles and sciatic nerve may be suffering from ischemia. This extremely common oxygen deprivation syndrome is usually enacted by a psychosomatic back pain process, making it the most difficult of all chronic pain syndromes to accurately diagnose. However, once discovered, the condition generally responds very well to appropriate treatment using knowledge therapy.
Relieving Back Pain When Standing
Here are some common sense suggestions to help relieve back ache associated with long periods of standing:
Try to find some measure of relief by altering your position and posture regularly. Take time to sit or lie down when necessary and walk instead of simply standing.
Remember, if walking helps, take advantage of the relief when you can. You do not have to walk anywhere in particular, just around the room might provide some reduction in symptomatic intensity.
Most importantly, consider the fact that your activity-related pain might be partially or fully caused or perpetuated by a psychoemotional condition. This is generally the best explanation for pain which seems to come on illogically with a given activity. This is even more of a strong possibility if the pain is related to work or other stressful situation in life. Consider this theory in great detail before acquiescing to any drastic medical treatment, such as back surgery, which may have serious inherent risks and might demonstrate poor curative results.
